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Beta-NMR as a novel technique using radioactive beams for biophysical studies. Lars HEMMINGSEN (University of Copenhagen) Monika STACHURA, (University of Copenhagen) Karl JOHNSTON (PH Dept, ISOLDE/CERN) ISOLDE collaboration (CERN). β - NMR apparatus. crystals. plastic. RF-coil.
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Beta-NMR as a novel technique using radioactive beams for biophysical studies Lars HEMMINGSEN (University of Copenhagen) Monika STACHURA, (University of Copenhagen) Karl JOHNSTON (PH Dept, ISOLDE/CERN)ISOLDE collaboration (CERN)
β-NMR apparatus crystals plastic RF-coil scintilators magnet poles Big advantage over conventional NMR: increase in sensitivity; potentially more than 10 orders of magnitude!! Often used in solid state physics, not yet in biophysics. Part of HIE-ISOLDE Wide variety of beams available at ISOLDE: polarised using tilted foil technique.
β-NMR/polarised beams: A novel technique for biophysics? • Cu(I)/Cu(II) are essential in many redox processes and electron transport in biology, e.g. in photosynthesis. • Cu(I) is “invisible” in most (except X-ray and nuclear) spectroscopic techniques: a closed shell ion • Measurements of spectroscopic properties (such as electric field gradients) for Cu(I) in proteins would have considerable impact in biophysics / bioinorganic chemistry • Other elements of particular interest: Most notably Zn (Again, Zn(II) is a closed shell ion), and Mn, Fe, Ni • All available at ISOLDE! Cu ion Azurin – an example of a Cu(I)/Cu(II) dependent electron transporting protein